'X Factor' contestant Lauren Platt has praised her mentor, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, revealing that her friends are jealous of the pair's close bond

Lauren Platt's friends are jealous of her close relationship with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

The 17-year-old 'X Factor' contestant - who is mentored by the 'Crazy Stupid Love' hitmaker on the ITV show - has admitted that her pals from home are envious of the pair's "great" relationship.

Lauren told 'Alan Carr's Chatty Man': "Oh it's so great, it is great, and she really looks after me. She gets so into it - when I watch the performances back and she's dancing away.

"In the sing off - the one just gone - she's going over to Simon saying to Simon, 'Save Lauren, save Lauren', like she really does look after me."

Lauren is one of the show's four remaining contestants. She made it to the semi-final, after winning in the sing-off against Stereo Kicks last Sunday (30.11.14).

Meanwhile, her rival, 20-year-old Andrea Faustini has admitted that he doesn't think Mel B lives up to her "Scary Spice" nickname from her time in the Spice Girls.

He said: "She's not scary at all. I'm sorry, I love her.

"She looks after me, she's constantly in touch with me - on Skype, she texts me - she's very cool. Last week, I went to her house to celebrate Thanksgiving Day."

Fleur East, 26, and 29-year-old Ben Haenow were also full of praise for their mentor, 55-year-old Simon Cowell.

Fleur said: "He'll speak to us through his team, so we'll constantly get messages at any time of the day, and he's always there at rehearsals and giving us tips, but to be fair he's a really good mentor because he lets us do what we want to do and then just guides us."

Ben Haenow joked: "We see him all the time, go out clubbing with him."